The murder trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis, the only person charged in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, is now underway, according to Rolling Stone. Davis is accused of organizing the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur in Las Vegas nearly three decades ago.
In an unusual legal twist, Davis is also expected to serve as the prosecution's star witness, CNN reports. His own testimony could be central to the case against him, a development that legal observers say adds a layer of complexity to the proceedings.
Davis, who has long been known to investigators as a key figure in the case, was arrested and charged after years of public statements about his involvement. NBC News reports that he is specifically charged with organizing the killing. The trial marks the first time anyone has stood trial for Shakur's death, according to news3lv.com, a Las Vegas outlet.
The case stems from a September 1996 shooting in Las Vegas, where Shakur was struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle. He died days later at age 25. The investigation went cold for decades, with no arrests made until Davis was taken into custody. The New York Times notes that the suspect's own prior admissions, including details shared in interviews and a memoir, helped revive the case after years of inactivity.
Davis has pleaded not guilty. The trial is expected to hinge on witness testimony and the credibility of Davis's own account, which he has given in multiple public forums over the years.
What to watch next: Whether the jury accepts Davis's own words as evidence of his role in organizing the fatal shooting.
